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Revision is
a phase of the writing process frequently ignored and commonly misunderstood. Because
it is misunderstood, it is often glossed over. And yet it is in the revision
phase that the writer has the greatest opportunity to lift the quality of the
writing. Recently, I
found myself reading curriculum documents that only referred to editing. Revision did not warrant a mention. There are currently commercial
companies pushing so called ‘writing programs’ to schools that only focus upon
the surface features of writing- essentially editing. This lack of attention to
revision means young writers are being denied the opportunity to appreciate how
this important action assists them to noticeably improve the content of the
writing. Revision is a lot more than the teacher merely telling the young
writer they need to add more details, or they need to use more describing words. When
teachers inform me students passively resist revision as a tool for improving
their writing pieces, I begin to w…

Finding writing ideas does not have to be difficult, but it does involve some thinking time. Sometimes using your senses can be a catalyst for writing ideas. Recently, as I sat in my favourite writing space, the sound of my neighbour's lawn mower buzzing and roaring triggered a memory.

I had an idea, but then I had to think about the genre in which I wanted to write. A recount would have been easy, and also a little predictable. As a writer, you have options. In my mind I had numerous thoughts and memories triggered by a familiar sound. The challenge this time was not what to write about, rather how? Student writers need to engage with their peers and teachers around such ponderings. Once they have identified what they want to write about, what messages they wish to convey, the question of how needs to be discussed.

Last week I found myself in a brief conversation with a young Grade 3 writer who had recently visited the Lerderderg Gorge situated in the Lerderderg State Park less than…

People who write get to live life twice - in the moment and in retrospect. That's what sets writers apart. I rarely go anywhere, or do anything without the shadow of my writing self being part of the adventure. Every experience provides opportunities to harvest writing ideas. It is a lens through which to view the limitless possibilities of the moment. I look forward to your responses,feedback and ideas.